Unit 143 North Slope, Summit/West Daggett
Big general-season elk country and Utah's strongest moose herd along the Wyoming line
Northeastern Utah — North Slope of the Uinta Mountains · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
1,000
sq mi
Public land
90%
approx.
Elevation
6,200–13,000
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
The North Slope, Summit/West Daggett unit blankets the entire north face of the Uinta Mountains from the Mirror Lake Highway east to the Colorado line, draining toward Wyoming and the Green River. It is a large, heavily public unit that mixes accessible timbered foothills and logging-road benches with rugged wilderness at its southern crest. The North Slope and Summit country holds some of the largest moose herds in Utah and offers dependable general-season elk hunting, plus limited-entry deer and a mountain-goat presence on the high peaks.
Terrain
Rolling forested benches and glacial canyons on the north slope rise steeply to the alpine crest of the Uintas. Flaming Gorge Reservoir and the Green River form the eastern edge.
Cover: Sagebrush and aspen at lower elevations grade into dense lodgepole pine, Engelmann spruce and subalpine fir, then open alpine tundra, willow bottoms and glacial lake basins above timberline.
Landmarks: High Uintas Wilderness crest · Flaming Gorge Reservoir · Green River · Mirror Lake Highway (SR-150) · Henry's Fork drainage · Hayden Pass
Access
Extensive Forest Service road network on the north slope reaches trailheads and camp spurs, but the southern crest lies inside the High Uintas Wilderness where travel is foot or horseback only. Private and reservoir/recreation-area parcels cluster near Flaming Gorge and the state-line foothills.
Managers: USFS Uinta-Wasatch-Cache NF, USFS Ashley NF, BLM, SITLA, private
Access points: Mirror Lake Highway (SR-150) · US-191 / Flaming Gorge corridor · China Meadows / Henry's Fork trailheads · Hoop Lake trailhead · Cart Creek / Flaming Gorge shoreline roads
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityA core general-season any-bull and spike unit with good elk numbers spread across the timbered slopes; bulls concentrate in and near the wilderness where pressure thins out.
- →Hunt the timber-meadow edges above the road benches at first and last light
- →Pack into wilderness pockets off Henry's Fork or Hoop Lake to escape road hunters
- →Let early snowfalls push elk down out of the crest into huntable timber
- →Glass north-slope parks and burns for feeding herds
Moose
common qualityThe North Slope and Summit country supports some of the largest and most productive Shiras moose herds in Utah, a coveted once-in-a-lifetime draw.
- →Work willow-choked creek bottoms and beaver-pond complexes at dawn and dusk
- →Glass aspen-willow transition zones on the lower slopes
- →Focus on riparian drainages feeding the Green River and Flaming Gorge tributaries
Mule Deer
common qualityLimited-entry deer opportunity with a chance at mature bucks that summer high and migrate down the north slope; general-season deer also occurs on portions of the unit.
- →Glass high aspen pockets and timber fingers early season before migration
- →Hunt migration corridors down the north slope after the first hard storms
- →Cover ground on the sage-aspen benches at lower elevation
Mountain Goat
limited qualityGoats inhabit the alpine cirques and cliffs along the shared Uinta crest; a strenuous, remote once-in-a-lifetime hunt.
- →Spot-and-stalk high basins and talus above 11,000 feet
- →Pack in via Henry's Fork toward the alpine cirques
- →Be in top physical condition and prepared to camp high
Black Bear
limited opportunityBlack bears range the timbered north-slope drainages and berry-rich benches.
- →Glass avalanche chutes and berry patches in late summer
- →Watch aspen stands and creek bottoms near feed
Pro tips
- →The wilderness crest is your pressure valve — a day's ride past the trailheads separates you from crowds
- →Time your hunt to the first significant snow to catch elk and deer moving down the north slope
- →Scout the willow bottoms early for moose sign before the season
- →Flaming Gorge on the east offers reliable water, camping and a fallback plan
- →Have a horse or a serious backpack plan for the roadless southern half
Watch out for
- !High Uintas Wilderness is foot/horseback only — no motorized or mechanized travel
- !Sudden alpine storms and hypothermia risk even in early fall
- !Private and recreation-area inholdings near Flaming Gorge and the state-line foothills
- !Long, rough forest roads — carry recovery and repair gear
- !General-season elk crowding on the accessible road benches
Logistics
Most services stage out of Evanston and Mountain View, Wyoming on the north, or Manila and Vernal near Flaming Gorge. Fuel and groceries thin out fast once you leave the highways; carry recovery gear and expect long, rough Forest Service roads to trailheads. Dispersed camping is plentiful on the national forest.
Nearest towns: Evanston, WY, Mountain View, WY, Manila, Vernal, Kamas
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Utah sources:
Research sources: UDWR Big Game Application Guidebook 2026 · UDWR North Slope Deer Herd Unit Management Plan · UDWR Uinta Mountains Mountain Goat Unit Management Plan · GOHUNT — Utah North Slope, Summit/West Daggett Unit Profile
FAQ
- How big is Unit 143 in Utah?
- Unit 143 (North Slope, Summit/West Daggett) covers about 1,000 square miles, ranging from roughly 6,200 to 13,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 143?
- Approximately 90% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Uinta-Wasatch-Cache NF, USFS Ashley NF, BLM, SITLA, private. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 143?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Moose, Mule Deer, Mountain Goat, Black Bear. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Utah agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 143 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.